Raycast AI — macOS Launcher with AI Commands

What it is

Raycast is a macOS productivity launcher that replaces Spotlight with a faster, extensible command palette. Raycast AI adds built-in AI commands that let you generate text, summarize documents, translate, write code, and run custom prompts from anywhere on your Mac. Highlight text in any app, press a hotkey, and Raycast AI processes it instantly.

Raycast AI is designed for macOS users who want AI assistance integrated into their system-level workflow rather than confined to a browser tab.

How it saves time or tokens

Raycast AI eliminates the context switch of opening ChatGPT or Claude in a browser. You invoke AI commands directly from any application. Highlight a paragraph in an email, press Cmd+Shift+A, select 'Summarize', and the result appears in seconds. Custom AI commands let you build reusable prompts for repetitive tasks like writing commit messages, translating text, or explaining code, saving time on repeated context setup.

How to use

1. Download Raycast from raycast.com (macOS only).

1. Open Raycast with Option + Space.

1. Type 'AI' to access built-in AI commands, or highlight text anywhere and press Cmd+Shift+A for AI actions:

Option + Space -> Type 'AI Chat' -> Start a conversation
Option + Space -> Type 'Fix Spelling' -> Paste text
Highlight text -> Cmd+Shift+A -> Select AI action

1. Create custom AI commands in Raycast Preferences > AI > Custom Commands.

Example

Custom AI command configuration for generating git commit messages:

Name: Generate Commit Message
Prompt: Write a concise git commit message for the following diff.
  Focus on the 'why' not the 'what'. Use imperative mood.
  Max 72 characters for the subject line.

Input: {clipboard}
Output: Copy to Clipboard

After copying a git diff to clipboard, invoke this command from Raycast to get a formatted commit message instantly.

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Common pitfalls

• Trying to use Raycast on Windows or Linux. Raycast is macOS-only and there is no official port to other platforms. Windows and Linux users should look at alternatives like Warp or terminal-based tools.
• Not setting up custom AI commands for frequent tasks. The built-in commands are generic. Custom commands tailored to your specific workflow provide much more value.
• Expecting Raycast AI to handle long-form content well. The launcher interface is optimized for quick, focused AI interactions. For extended conversations or document-length generation, a full chat interface works better.